Mail-pouch.



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APPLIOATIN FILED DEU.17, 1903.

NO MODEL,

I lio mcys Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN J. RUSSELL, JR., OF DEEPWATER, MISSOURI.

MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,973, dated August e, 1904.

Application filed December 17,1903. Serial No. 185,569. (No mollel To far/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-1N J. RUSSELL, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Deep Water, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Mail-Pouch, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to mail-pouches or analogous receptacles, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which in practice may be readily brought to an open position for the reception of mail or the like and one in which the cover will in moving to an open position be initially automatically released from engagement with the mouth of the receptacle and linally automatically locked in its open or elevated position.

With these and other objects in View the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pouch embodying my invention and in the open position. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detail sectional elevations illustrative of the various steps incident to opening the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a supporting-base, composed, preferably, of wood and of rectangular form, as herein shown. This base has attached to its upper end adjacent to its transverse center a latching member 2 in the form of alength of spring metal projecting outward over the front face of the base and bent at its outer end to provide an engaging-linger 3. The base also has attached to its front face, adjacent to its upper end, a pair of primary bearings 4, suitably spaced laterally, and directly above the same a pair of secondary bearings 5 in vertical alinement with the bearings 4, all of said bearings consisting, preferably, of suitable lengths of sheet metal each centrally bent to form the bearingopenings.

6l designates the pouch or receptacle, composed, preferably, of fabric and in the form of a sack having its upper open end or mouth folded around a primary supporting-frame 7, pivoted in the primary bearings 4 to swing in a vertical plane. This frame, which is preferably composed of wire and of rectangular form, is provided upon its front bar 8 with a spring-catch 9 and upon its rear bar 1() with a centrally-disposed right-angularlyprojecting substantially U-shaped loop 11, the longitudinal axis of the loop being at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

12 indicates the cover, composed preferably, of fabric having its edges wrapped and secured around a secondary frame 13, pivoted in thc secondary bearings 5 to swing in a vertical plane. This frame, which is likewise composed, preferably, of wire and of rectangular form, has fixed upon its front bar 14 a handpiece 15 and is provided upon its rear bar 16 with a centrally-disposed right-angularlyprojecting substantially U-shaped loop 17 of a width somewhat less than the width of the loop 11, through which latter it normally pro jects. The loop 17, which is of a length greater than the length of loop 11, has its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of frame 13, whereby. the loops will when the cover is in closed position stand at substantially right angles, and when swung to an open position theloop 11 will pass beneath the catch 2, while the loop 17 will be automatically engaged by the finger 3.

1n practice, supposing the parts to be in closed position with the bar 14 of frame 12 engaged by the spring-catch 9, as seen in Fig. 2, and that it is desired to open the receptacle, the operator engages the linger-piece 15 and raises frame 13, which because of engagement with catch 9 will carry with it the frame 7.

Owing to the relative eccentric pivoting' of the frames, the secondary framel, which is of slightly-greater length than the frame 7, will as the same approaches a horizontal p0- sition be automatically released from the catch 9, as seen in Fig. 3. Continued movement of the cover then carries the loop 17 into position for automatic engagement by the latching member 2 and at the same time engages and swings upward the loop 11,whereby the cover is maintained, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, in open position and the frame 7 in horizontal position, thus supporting the mouth of the pouch for the reception of matter which it is to contain. When it is desired to close the pouch, slight pressure upon the member 2 releases the loop 17 and permits the frame to be rengaged by the latch 9.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a device of simple construction which will admirably perform its functions and one in which the action of the parts Vduring the opening movement is entirely automatic. In attaining these ends it is to be .understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein set forth, inasmuch as minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isM 1. The combination with a pouch having a rigid mouth foldable upon its body portion, of a cover normally engaged with said mouth, said cover being eccentrically pivoted relative to and automatically released as the mouth is moved to unfolded position.

2. rJhe combination with a support, of a frame pivoted to swing toward and from the support, a pouch having its mouth connected with said frame, a cover for the pouch eccentrically pivoted relative to and normally engaged with the frame and adapted to be automatically released as the latter vswings outward.

3. The combination with a support, of a frame pivoted to swing toward and from the support, a pouch having its mouth connected with said frame, a cover for the pouch adapted to close upon the frame, a catch provided upon one of the parts for normally engaging the other, said cover being eccentrically pivoted relative to and automatically released as the frame swings outward.

4. The combination with a support, of a frame pivoted to swing toward and from the support, a pouch having its mouth connected with said frame, a cover for the pouch eccentrically pivoted relative to the frame and adapted to close upon the latter, one of said parts. being of greater dimension than the other on a line at right angles to the pivotal axis, and acatch carried by one of the parts for normally engaging the other and adapted as the parts swing outward to automatically release the cover.

5. The combination with a support, of a pouch carried thereby and having a rigid mouth adapted to swing toward and from the support, a cover eccentrically pivoted relative to and normally engaged with said mouth and adapted to be automatically released' as the mouth swings outward, and means for automatically locking the parts in open position.

6. The combination with a support, of a pouch carried thereby and having a rigid mouth adapted to swing toward and from the support, a cover eccentrically pivoted relative to and normally engaged with said mouth and adapted to be automatically released as the mouth swings outward, andmeans for locking the parts in open position.

7. The combination with a support, of a frame pivoted to swing toward and from the same and having a projecting loop, a pouch having its mouth connected with said frame, a second frame eccentrically pivoted relative to the first and adapted to fold upon the latter, a projecting loop provided upon the second frame and extending through the first-mentioned loop, and a member associated with the support for engaging the second loop to main# tain the parts in open position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. RUSSELL, JR.

Witnesses:

LEE GOODWIN, J No. A. GRAB. 

